UDINE. A win with its teeth against a team that never gives up. The Old Wild West flies to 2-0 beating Scafati 85-79 thanks to an angry ending with at least four men leading the Boniciolli gang: Jonnson, Amato, Antronutti and a glacial Giuri. On Friday race three in Campania, at 6 pm the obligatory aperitif at the debut of the Euroazzurri. Buckle up
Play, defend, even run the Old Wild West. Yes, he is also wrong a lot, but the match against Scafati starts well, proving to be solid, compact. You know the boxer’s sack? You hit him and he deforms a little, but he regroups quickly. Here the bells are like that, always there. For this reason, starting well is essential. And the Apu also does it thanks to a warm Johnson. While Boniciolli smashes his aces off the bench and his deputy Finetti remotes his meter after meter for the defense, Amato makes Mian, that is, enters and places two triples while his teammate starts making a mistake even if defending. And then Italian makes Italian. The Bolognese does not abound in talent, but for matches like this he is perfect.
He fights, hits, fights, even scores. Of course, the press is often also against the defense. Everything nice? No. I wish it were all smooth as oil. Or luckily, Scafati would say, who with a 6-0 partial impact between the first and second quarters (21-21).
And then he continues to play a game of defensive intensity, with an area immediately indigestible for the hosts, and with an attack in which all the Italians have an impact. Palumbo is a great prospect, Rossato is dangerous, Cucci often and willingly.
And Gaines? It is imprecise and Amato, with a great defensive action dedicated to those who say that the former Olimpia does not defend, accompanies him to the bench making him commit the third foul. Even Thomas argues with the basket, luckily for Udine who does not have his perfect scorer in the team. In short, the Campania region, once again in the “made in Italy” version, send the Apu below the range 38-41.
Why? Simple, if you attack the area even well, for heaven’s sake, but you have 33% from three and from below with Silent Foulland, only Antonutti makes a few baskets, it’s hard. We need the triples of Mian (dry) and Johnson sipped properly by Boniciolli. We start again: total balance. Apu, Gaines “rides” a zero in the points scored box, difficult to repeat, you have to take advantage of it. “Udine, Udine” Carnera sings. Sergio scares the palace with two triple deaths and a dunk in transition.
The number 20 is a puzzle: no one can mark it. The moment is difficult, perhaps decisive for the match and, who knows, for the series. The APU must find the lost magic word: fluidity in attack. Beloved, the best, makes up for it with two super triples and what does Gaines do? Throw the third or maybe even fourth triple without taking the iron, then do the same with two two-pointers from the corner.
Apu, come on, when does it happen again? End of the third quarter: 59-56 Apu, much thanks to the play that seemed too much at the beginning of the season. Sport is also wonderful because things change.
Thomas returns, Scafati is always there. Nobile invents himself as a raider, Marino scores from three, Antonutti too. Here it is again that strange feeling that the moment is crucial: 66-61 with 8 ‘from the end. It does not last long, Thomas stitches up and Antonutti, strong, has to overcome himself to limit him.
Hits forbidden in one and the other area, here you play them for one season. When Johnson with two triples of his blows on the embers of the Carnera, the public does not even have time to think about both the decisive draw that Marino with 7 points, including a sidereal triple, returns there to a shot.
We would like the game to last another 20 ‘as it is exciting, but the clock marks 2’41 ”at the end when Johnson with a disruptive penetration closed with a dunk gives a big emotional push to the game (78-73). However, in the next minute Udine wastes, stops and Thomas at 49 ”brings his team back to -2 (79-77).
The ending is thrilling, needless to say. “Ice” You swear from the lunette, in a deathly silence, extend again. Thomas at 22 ”scores, a systematic foul and Johnson has the two free throws of the victory, after he had missed them a minute earlier. Error on the first. Chills. Basket.
Scafati has the draw action. Will Udine do it? No, Thomas has been thinking about making mistakes for three years. “Ice” Giuri scores a free, Scafati re-misses and Johnson closes everything with an imperious dunk that blows up the building. Friday in Scafati will be very hard. But playing 2-0 is a good way to go.